When you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door (Matthew 24:33, NLT).
Prophecies have a time-release mechanism to them.
In other words, when they happen, we notice a prophecy has just been fulfilled. The prophecies seem non-descript in Scripture, and then an event occurs, and we know . . .
Wow, that was predicted in Scripture!
A lot of prophecies are being fulfilled now. Jesus has given us the “time-release” prophecies so that we will know when the time is near!
Another aspect of latter-day prophecies is that they build in intensity.
For instance, the spirit of the antichrist will appear in various forms and people throughout history but will manifest in one person at the end of time. Consider wars and rumors of wars, disease, and natural disasters, all predicted to increase in the end times.
We are to watch and be prepared. Jesus taught the lesson of the fig tree . . .
Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door (Matthew 24:32-33).
Recently, I received the following report from a Russian friend about a new law in Russia. Does this report sound strangely familiar with a well-known Biblical prophecy?
Yesterday, the President of the Russian Federation signed a document that includes a number of amendments to the laws of the Russian Federation. This package of amendments was popularly called “the law on electronic summonses.”
This means that from now on, instead of receiving call-up papers in person and having to sign the notice, the citizens will be sent an online army notice and then entered into a special registry. Once in this registry, the summons will automatically be considered as received. Therefore, “not getting the call-up paper” if it is sent online will be impossible. Immediately after the online notice is entered into the registry, the citizen is prohibited from leaving the country.
If one does not appear in the military registration office, a number of restrictions are imposed on the person liable for military service: he will not be able to drive a car, buy and sell property, or conduct business as an individual entrepreneur.
Now let’s use our “latter-day” discernment and read from the book of Revelation . . .
He (the beast) required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name (13:16-17).
I’m not saying the recent legislation in Russia is the final fulfillment of the “mark of the beast” prophecy in Revelation 13. I do think it is a “type” or a “precursor,” indicating possibility and soon probability.
So that we can be prepared. As Jesus taught about end-time events and prophecies, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand” (Matthew 13:9, NLT).
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!